Round 3

Cloud vs. Ritcher

Cloud's simple turn away from the camera, Ritcher's familiar 'farewell' salute. Two muted actions on gestures sides of the match graphic, two very different emotions conveyed.

"I did the smart thing, and ponied up to the guys with the big swords with nothing better to do," Ritcher shrugged, "Hate to say, but Mister Strife has no chance."

"I've had everything you could ever have thrown at me," Cloud's interview cut in, " Tidal waves of sewage, missiles, every elemental magic you could think of. Ritcher may talk a big game, but he doesn't know me, I'm ready."

Ritcher got the final word. "I've seen some amazing warriors in my time some with very large swords, but they all crumble at the slightest bit of trickery. I hope you're as good as the evidence suggests, and not just some easily crumbled pretender."

"Bah," Cranky spat as the commentators were given the green light, "One anime boy is silent, the other is supremely overconfident. Somebody get me several Bloody Banana Marys, I'm going to need them."

"Will you ever stop being dramatic?" 9-Volt moaned.

"Nope!"

9-Volt sighed, "Futaba?"

"Cloud," Futaba blurted, "He's the only champion left. It's only reasonable to back him."

"Alright, that was easy. Let's go to the floor for entrances!"

The Final Fantasy victory theme, caused the crowd to sing along. Cloud rocketed out of the tunnel atop his trusty Fenrir motorcycle as the melody of the victory theme played. Circling the arena and waving to the fans, he set Fenrir in park, stepping off of it and onto the Smash logo at the center of the stadium.

As soon as he did, the baseline to Divine Bloodline played, Ritcher rocking the signature Belmont strut as the violins and drums kicked in. The more Ritcher waved, the more the women squealed. Despite the jovial expression, his eyes did not leave Cloud's gaze.

"Yes," Simon muttered from the Smashers' Box, "Keep concentrating on him, my boy."

"All the concentration in the world won't help," scoffed Robin.

"You're just bitter because you lost!" snapped Bowser.

"As much as it pains me to agree with Bowser, he's correct," Krystal added, "He's more steeled than he's ever been."

"You guys can read minds?" balked Ann from the back of the auditorium, the Phantom Thieves around her looking just as shocked.

"Until the match begins," Ness informed them, "The way the battlefields are set up, they feature telepathy inhibitors."

"Much to my eternal chagrin," Mewtwo grumbled.

"You're just mad because you lost to me back in the Melee days, young man," hissed Game and Watch.

"Yeah, that makes me feel great," Luigi grumbled.

"You're in the final twelve dude," Sonic insisted, "Let that crap slide off your back."

Luigi nodded, "You're right."

"Not to be rude," Banjo announced, "But you're gonna miss the stage selection."

"Yeah!" added Kazooie, "You guys are gonna inflate the word count with your useless babble."

"Word count? The hell?" asked Ryuji

"Ignore it," Morgana commanded reaching across the space between Joker and Ryuji to smack the blond in the head, "Joker needs to watch too."

"Right, sorry," an apologetic mumble escaped Ryuji's lips.

As the Smashers' Box quieted down, the video wall settled on the stage the match would take place on, the Melee version of Yoshi's Island.

"The rules are these,' Mills frames stated, "3-stock, items medium. Are you ready?"

Both combatants nodded. With that confirmation, they disappeared.

Stage: Yoshi's Island (Melee)

Rules: 3-stock, items medium

Music: Yoshi's Island (Melee)

3

Falling after his Fusion Sword, Cloud touched down on the bottom of a grassy hill.

2

Ritcher appeared in a flourish of his whip, grinning at the smiling, yellow platform that bridged the bottomless pit between them.

1

The only sound that echoed across the warm valley was the squeezing of leather, as both men tightened their hold on their weapons.

GO!

As countless others had done before them, they charged, except Ritcher whipped the last square of the bridge as Cloud went to step on it. Tripping suddenly, Cloud fell through the chasm, immediately forfeiting a stock!

Cloud:2

Ritcher: 3

"WOW!" was all 9-Volt could say.

"I bet you all the Cloud bros in Smash City are clutching their betting tickets closed to their Cheetos-stained Bleach t-shirts," Cranky hollered.

Meanwhile, a shit-eating grin beset Ritcher bouncing on his toes as the flipping platforms slowed and reverted to normal.

"Gotcha!" he laughed.

The smallest of frowns tugged at Cloud's face.

"Cute," came his ice-cold reply.

Cloud simply fell to where he had begun, a Pokeball sitting patiently in the grass. As hard as he could, Cloud lobbed it across the battlefield, landing right at Ritcher's feat. Ritcher's eyes could only widen as a Bearwear appeared, nailing him with two uncontested uppercuts, knocking him up the hill and into the Blast Zone.

Cloud: 2

Ritcher: 2

"Gotcha," Cloud dryly exclaimed, a small grin on his face.

"You miserable little shit, you are gonna pay," growled Ritcher from the Revival Platform.

Ritcher blindly charged Cloud, spinning his whip as he ran. The successful attack against him didn't bother the ex-SOLDIER. A duet of Triple Slashes, held Ritcher in place for more punishment from Bearwear, two uppercuts once again knocking the vampire hunter up the hill and into the Blast Zone.

Cloud: 2

Ritcher: 1

"Boy, do I feel bad for the people in the bathroom," Cranky joked, "They might miss the entire match!"

As the commentary team shared a rare laugh, a Pokeball appeared at Cloud's feet. However, much to the swordman's shock, Ritched dove off of the revival platform, a rolling whip snap to the ankles making sure Ritcher got the Pokeball. Immediately upon standing Ritcher spiked it down.

"VICTINI!" squeaked the legendary Pokemon.

And in the blink of an eye, Ritcher was granted the power of his Final Smash. Cloud tensed, waiting for the perfect moment. Not a second had passed before Ritcher very noticeably cocked his fingers back. Cloud had stepped backward before Ritcher could even activate Grand Cross, causing the casket meant for him to spin harmlessly in the air.

"Damn it," hissed Ritcher.

He charged Cloud, surprising the veteran with a Belmont Uppercut. Landing on a floating platform as Cloud fell to Earth, he launched into another.

"FINISHING TOUCH!" Cloud cried.

A tornado surrounded Cloud, the sheer force of the sudden move knocking Ritcher out, causing him to fall limply toward the platform upon which he had previously stood.

"Nothing personal," Cloud grunted.

A Triple Slash followed swiftly be another knocked the defenseless vampire hunter into the Blast Zone.

GAME!

Cloud stood in the Smash Mansion Courtyard, his back to the camera drones that whizzed up to him.

"Limits are meant to be broken," he proclaimed.

CLOUD WINS!

With the splash screen's declaration, Ritcher's visage appeared, clapping with a frown on his face. Mister Zero edged his way into Ritcher's space, and their screen expanded to take up the whole screen.

"A decisive win by Cloud. Walk us through it Ritcher," prompted Mister Zero.

"There's nothing to walk through," shouted Ritcher, "I got cocky, I got angry, I got destroyed, I let everyone down, what more do you want?"

"Um…" stammered a now-quivering Mister Zero, "Nothing. Thank you for your time."

Ritcher stomped up the tunnel. Now, Rita stood in front of Cloud.

"A thrilling win! What's next?"

Cloud shrugged, "Depends on who wins Rita. Banjo-Kazooie, Joker. Be ready."

"A man of few words," Rita shrugged as Cloud walked up the tunnel, "Cranky, 9-Volt, back to you."

Cloud entered the Smashers' Box to applause, Simon with an arm over a sulking Ritcher's shoulder, whispering in his ear. Cloud began to key Tifa's communicator number, but Sonic and Isabelle hounded him, chatting excitedly.

"Alright," Marth announced, "Joker, Banjo-Kazooie, you are the next match."

"Yes!" Kazooie cheered to the hooting chants of the rest of DLC, "Time to be a Phantom Thief!"

"Let's focus on the match, and then talk about that," Banjo said.

Joker chuckled, "Yeah. Good luck out there kid."

As The Phantom Thieves marched down Tunnel A, Kazooie fumed, "Kid? We came around in 1997, and Persona still had the draw distance of a bat…"

"Kazooie, cool it," snapped Banjo, "They're trying to get in our heads,"

"You're right," Kazooie nodded, "He did survive that annoying ass interrogation after all. Let's go."

Bear and bird marched into the unknown, Kazooie putting Banjo on her back as they tackled the steep incline that is Tunnel B.